Inspiration for a timeless living room library remodel in Philadelphia with a standard fireplace

MODERN HEIRLOOM A historic house, eclectically reimagined. DESIGN DESCRIPTION The original Victorian details of this home are preserved and paired with a collected, modern sensibility. The story begins in the foyer, where encaustic tile, oak panelling and stained glass are warmed by coral grasscloth. A grand oak staircase, dressed in a striped runner beneath a sculptural brass chandelier, rises to a stained-glass window seat. In the dining room, a lacquered teal ceiling and botanical wallpaper crown chartreuse velvet chairs and a glowing smoked-glass chandelier. The living room plays jewel-toned velvets and sculptural pieces against carved plaster and leaded glass, while the powder room makes a bold statement in graphic tile and an ornate silver mirror. Upstairs, the palette softens to luminous white. In the bedroom, a wall of antiqued mirror glows above sumptuous linen beside a carved oak mantel. In the bathroom, an antique oak sideboard has been reborn as a vanity, set beside a sculptural soaking tub and Calacatta marble. Throughout the home, richness is balanced with restraint, and heritage with quiet luxury.

Cesar Rubio Hulburd Design transformed a 1920s French Provincial-style home to accommodate a family of five with guest quarters. The family frequently entertains and loves to cook. This, along with their extensive modern art collection and Scandinavian aesthetic informed the clean, lively palette.

Instead of a TV this client chose to highlight art, books, and objects in his modern living room. Jeffrey Freeman Photography
Example of a trendy living room design in Portland

This 6,500-square-foot one-story vacation home overlooks a golf course with the San Jacinto mountain range beyond. The house has a light-colored material palette—limestone floors, bleached teak ceilings—and ample access to outdoor living areas. Builder: Bradshaw Construction Architect: Marmol Radziner Interior Design: Sophie Harvey Landscape: Madderlake Designs Photography: Roger Davies

Time had stood still at this 1970s ranch in Armonk when the owners invited us to collaborate with them to transform it into a modern, light-filled home for their young family. The budget was lean, so economy was a primary consideration for every design decision. The challenge was to identify the modest home’s virtues – vaulted ceilings and a lovely backyard – and accentuate them by strategically optimizing available funds. We were tasked with rectifying a dysfunctional interior stair, connecting to the outdoors with new large windows, and updating the exterior. We focused our attention on a finite set of architectural moves which would have the biggest impact and improve our clients’ daily experience of the home. Detailing was kept simple, using common grade materials and standard components. All exterior walls were revamped with new windows and siding. Although these materials were not particularly costly, thoughtful layout of boards, battens, and openings produced a cohesive, rigorous composition at each facade. Since the budget would not cover the homeowners’ complete wish list, some items were bracketed for subsequent phases. The challenge was to establish a framework that would allow future work – including a new roof and kitchen renovation – to proceed smoothly. The homeowners, both scientists, were enthusiastic collaborators, contributing their outstanding design sensibilities to selection of fixtures and finishes. Construction ended just in time for the arrival of their baby – and with that, the transformation of their family home was complete.

Example of a trendy open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room design in Wilmington with white walls

Keeping the same brick, these homeowners gave it new life by painting it a neutral gray for future use and longevity. New siding, fresh trim, and a modern coat of paint on the existing brick. The result is a cohesive, contemporary exterior that blends style, durability, and thoughtful design — turning what could have been a setback into a stunning transformation.

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room remodel in Phoenix with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Everyone needs a little space of their own. Whether it’s a cozy reading nook for a busy mom to curl up in at the end of a long day, a quiet corner of a living room for an artist to get inspired, or a mancave where die-hard sports fans can watch the game without distraction. Even Emmy-award winning “This Is Us” actor Sterling K. Brown was feeling like he needed a place where he could go to be productive (as well as get some peace and quiet). Sterling’s Los Angeles house is home to him, his wife, and two of their two sons – so understandably, it can feel a little crazy. Sterling reached out to interior designer Kyle Schuneman of Apt2B to help convert his garage into a man-cave / office into a space where he could conduct some of his day-to-day tasks, run his lines, or just relax after a long day. As Schuneman began to visualize Sterling’s “creative workspace”, he and the Apt2B team reached out Paintzen to make the process a little more colorful. The room was full of natural light, which meant we could go bolder with color. Schuneman selected a navy blue – one of the season’s most popular shades (especially for mancaves!) in a flat finish for the walls. The color was perfect for the space; it paired well with the concrete flooring, which was covered with a blue-and-white patterned area rug, and had plenty of personality. (Not to mention it makes a lovely backdrop for an Emmy, don’t you think?) Schuneman’s furniture selection was done with the paint color in mind. He chose a bright, bold sofa in a mustard color, and used lots of wood and metal accents throughout to elevate the space and help it feel more modern and sophisticated. A work table was added – where we imagine Sterling will spend time reading scripts and getting work done – and there is plenty of space on the walls and in glass-faced cabinets, of course, to display future Emmy’s in the years to come. However, the large mounted TV and ample seating in the room means this space can just as well be used hosting get-togethers with friends. We think you’ll agree that the final product was stunning. The rich navy walls paired with Schuneman’s decor selections resulted in a space that is smart, stylish, and masculine. Apt2B turned a standard garage into a sleek home office and Mancave for Sterling K. Brown, and our team at Paintzen was thrilled to be a part of the process.

Bedroom - coastal master medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in San Francisco with blue walls

Keeping the same brick, these homeowners gave it new life by painting it a neutral gray for future use and longevity. New siding, fresh trim, and a modern coat of paint on the existing brick. The result is a cohesive, contemporary exterior that blends style, durability, and thoughtful design — turning what could have been a setback into a stunning transformation.

Reclaimed Wood Beams, photo by Jean Randazzo Photography
Trendy master medium tone wood floor and brown floor bedroom photo in Los Angeles with beige walls

Danny Piassick
Example of a mid-sized 1950s guest porcelain tile bedroom design in Austin with beige walls

Photo: http://www.brentbinghamphoto.com

Living room - large transitional formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Miami with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

The SW-131L is a large sized oval freestanding and symmetrical modern type bathtub. It is designed to look unique and simple, yet stylish. All of our bathtubs are made of durable white stone resin composite and available in a matte or glossy finish. Its height from drain to overflow will give plenty of space for two individuals to enjoy a comfortable relaxing bathtub experience. This tub combines elegance, durability, and convenience with its high quality construction and chic modern design. This sophisticated oval designed freestanding tub will surely be the center of attention and will add a contemporary feel to your new bathroom. The SW-131L is a two person bathtub and will be a great addition to a bathroom design that will transition in the future. Item#: SW-131L Product Size (inches): 70.9 L x 35.4 W x 24.4 H inches Material: Solid Surface/Stone Resin Color / Finish: Matte White (Glossy Optional) Product Weight: 352.7 lbs Water Capacity: 108 Gallons Drain to Overflow: ~16 Inches FEATURES This bathtub comes with: A complimentary pop-up drain (Does NOT include any additional piping). All of our bathtubs come equipped with an overflow. The overflow is built integral to the body of the bathtub and leads down to the drain assembly (provided for free). There is only one rough-in waste pipe necessary to drain both the overflow and drain assembly (no visible piping). Please ensure that all of the seals are tightened properly to prevent leaks before completing installation. If you require an easier installation for our free standing bathtubs, look into purchasing the Bathtub Rough-In Drain Kit for Free Standing Bathtubs.

We just repainted a Victorian house, Circa 1885, for a new client in Chicago. When you see a house of this size and this level of detail, a question comes to mind: How often do you want to have to repaint a house like this? The answer is simple: The least often possible! The related question is: What can you do to extend the life of a paint job? Depending on its size, its level of detail and the condition of its coatings and substrates, a Painted Lady’s paint job can cost between $20,000 and $50,000, sometimes even more. Because of its clapboard and extensive trim and millwork, a Victorian house is especially vulnerable to deterioration. Before having us start the painting project, the owners spent about $8,000 on carpentry repair work to the house. To minimize the future cost of carpentry repairs and prolong the longevity of the paint job, we recommend what we call “Maintenance Painting” to our clients. What does maintenance painting entail? Maintenance painting consists of doing a close inspection of the coatings of a house, every couple of years. What do we look for: signs of failure in the caulking and coatings. When the coating or caulking starts to crack, it is an entry point to moisture, which gets trapped, rots the wood and causes paint failure. Once caulk starts to fail, the deterioration of the substrate and coatings accelerates rapidly. This is why early detection is critical to maintain the integrity of the paint job. We then do caulk and coating maintenance on those spots we detected. When we notice the beginning signs of wood rot, we also do epoxy restoration in those areas. A homeowner needs the assistance of a dedicated painting and decorating contractor in order execute this periodic maintenance. The challenge is two-fold. One, owners are typically unaware of the importance of coating maintenance. Two, painting contractors do not seem to recognize the opportunity of offering this service to their clients. So, these expensive paint jobs are allowed to deteriorate, which adds to the future cost of the repaints. The kind of coating maintenance we are talking about can cost between $500 and $1,500 every two years. The money saved in avoiding expensive carpentry repairs alone more than justifies coating maintenance. Our clients who own historic Victorian home or other “Period” homes in the Chicago area really appreciate this additional service we offer them.

Mike Kaskel
Bedroom - large traditional master dark wood floor and brown floor bedroom idea in Houston with blue walls and no fireplace